The Supreme Court will hear about the circumstances of a number of disabled people and carers as they tackle the issues raised by the introduction of the so-called “bedroom tax”.

Five of the cases at the centre of the proceedings relate to people who have so far suffered defeat at both the High Court and Court of Appeal.

One challenge is that of spina bifida sufferer Jacqueline Carmichael, who lives with her husband in a two-bedroom housing association flat in Stockport.

Her condition means she has to sleep in a hospital bed with an electronic pressure mattress and sleep in a fixed position. There is not enough space for a second bed so her husband sleeps in a separate bedroom.

When the new regulations were introduced the couple had their housing benefit reduced by 14 per cent.

Solicitor Ugo Hayter, of law firm Leigh Day, who acts for Mrs Carmichael, said: “My clients are looking to the Supreme Court to recognise and bring to an end the awful hardship they, and many other disabled people nationally, have been subjected to since the introduction of the bedroom tax.”

And single Mervyn Drage, from Manchester, occupies a three-bedroom flat in a high-rise tower block, and has lived there for 19 years. He suffers from mental health problems, and various physical problems.

His legal team say his conditions are exacerbated by stress, anxiety and changes to routine, and he is “very anxious about the prospect of having to move if his full housing benefit entitlement is not reinstated”.

They say he has been reliant on discretionary payments from his local council to make up the shortfall, but that “these ran out at the beginning of February” and he is “waiting to hear if his application for a further award will be granted”.

Karen Ashton, from the Central England Law Centre, which represents Mr Drage, commented: “This case is about fairness.

"It is about disabled people being entitled to be paid sufficient housing benefit for the size and type of accommodation they need because of their disabilities and not being penalised because they are disabled.”

Lawyers say the current regulations allow for an additional bedroom if a disabled adult requires overnight care but not for a disabled child in the same situation.

The discretionary payments to cover their shortfall in rent run out next month, and their legal team say “there is no guarantee they will continue in the future”.